Thin womb lining- what can help? Or just go for assisted conception?

[zumm]

Hi, I suspect part of the reason why it's taking me so long to conceive is that, now I'm 41, my womb lining is much thinner than when I was younger (periods now 3-4 days vs 6-7 days). I've had a scan and apparently the womb lining looked normal for 7 days (had scan on day 7). fsh levels, progesterone at day 21 all fine. But I know my body has changed (post d&c). I just wondered if anyone had any ideas of what I could do - medication to take or etc to help the womb lining. or whether just to go for ivf for max likelihood of falling pg. ...or whether there's something else I sd do first.

(PS I am currently on second cycle of - very low dose, private doctor prescribed - Clomid despite normal ovulation - and I worry since clomid can of course make the womb lining even thinner.)

Thanks v much for any feedback!

[sharond101]

I believe the HCG shot triggers ovulation.

[Shellster52]

I have been off the alcohol for several months now. Used to drown my AF appearance sorrows with lots of alcohol. Was very tempted last night after a crap day at work but thanks for the timely reminder Nat. Managed to avoid. Gongrats on your efforts to zumm. I think if my next IVF fails, I am going to have that bucket of alcohol you speak of zumm!!

As for the HCG shot, I had a friend with PCOS who was on Clomid but still not ovulating. The first month they gave for the Clomid with the HCG, she ovulated and got pregnant. It's just to help the egg release from the follicle. When I do IVF, I take the shot exactly 36 hours before they retrieve my eggs, so the eggs have come away from the follicle (but hopefully not released yet into the tubes) and are easy to collect. But if your day 21 progesterone levels were fine, then it seems your body is ovulating naturally anyway.

[SharpLily]

Sorry for the delay, zumm, been busy! I had two early miscarriages and as my periods had been much lighter the last few years and I was 37 at the time, it seemed womb lining could be an issue. I started taking Red Clover (just ordered from Amazon) before anything else was done and straightaway my next period was heavier. Didn't have one after that to be able to judge as got pregnant that next month and am now 28 weeks and all looks good . There were no guarantees the Red Clover was a factor because we hadn't gone very far down the road of investigation and resolution but the doctor was pretty pleased with the result.

[zumm]

Thanks Sharp - I'll go and do some Dr Google research into Red Clover! Congrats on your pregnancy and hope it all keeps going really well.

Part of me wonders whether I've messed up my period partly through a lot of self-medication of herbs (period started getting lighter after I took various fertile-aid type teas and herbs). BUT that may just have been coincidence (age related, say). My doc also advised against any herbs while on clomid, but since this is my last month of taking clomid (I think) then maybe next month… Thanks again!

[helenlouisey]

Hi, if your womb lining has been thinner and periods lighter since an ERPC it might be worth investigating whether the ERPC has caused Ashermans (scarring in the uterus) some useful info here www.ashermans.org/home/

Fingers crossed it's not it, but I don't want you to spend £1'000s in fertility treatment which is never going to work till the AS is treated, (like we did!)

Best of luck x

[Shellster52]

Zumm, if you find anything that works particularly for you, I would be very interested to hear. I would be interested in how you find the Red Clover works for you, as SharpLily suggested. Would you mind if I PM you in case we lose contact through these threads just so that if you do find something that works well to thicken your lining, you can just reply to my PM so that I can try it too ? I am doing IVF next cycle and have enough Viagra just for my next IVF cycle and so obviously hoping like crazy that I won't need to worry about my lining any more after next cycle, but good to have a plan B just in case.

[zumm]

Shell - yes, let's keep in touch via PM. Massive good luck for your IVF cycle. Pl keep in touch with me over that too.

Helen - I was v concerned about Ashermans too - in fact I suspected that's what I had. I therefore went for a private scan and they said there is nothing wrong with my womb, no Ashermans (apparently) and everything looked fine for the cycle day. It's all very perplexing. The troubles all started after my ERPC though - although having said that, I am now 41 so ERPC or not, maybe thinning womb is what would be happening to me anyway. (RRPC 15 months ago.)

Having said all this, Helen, did you start your fertility treatment without being scanned - or did you have an initial scan that indicated you were Asherman free (only to later be shown this was not the case?).

[zumm]

*(ERPC 15 months ago)

[helenlouisey]

Hi Zumm, I had a scan before we did IUI and then IVF and was told all was fine. I later found out that scans are not the best for detecting AS, you need to have an HSG to be sure there's no scarring. It was only after the fertility treatment didn't work that I had the HSG which showed AS. Are you close to London? I can recommend a couple of AS consultants who are rated as A list by the Ashermans Association, one works solely as a private doctor & the other is very difficult to get to see on the NHS. Just PM if you want any details and phone numbers etc or have any questions x